Tips on Helping Your Baby Sleep Through the Night

Posted on October 11, 2016 by Krissyar

Nothing is sweeter than watching your little one sleep – peaceful…and quiet.
But that can be short lived if they are not accustomed to sleeping through the night; which can be a task in itself. Now this Mama does not do well with interrupted sleep, so there’s a few things I did to ensure that my little ones learned to sleep through the night – as soon as possible.

Now when they are infants (usually the first few months) no matter what – expect to lose sleep. They have to eat every few hours, and no amount of routine or well wishing will change this. Usually between 3 and 6 months your little one will get to a point where they can at least sleep a straight 6 hours – and this is when you want to implement a routine to help keep it that way.

baby_sleeping

Routine. As I mentioned, implementing a routine is the best way to get your baby to sleep through the night. Whether its a bath then cuddle time, or story time, pick a routine and then stick to it. When my kids’ are on a night time routine not only do the evenings go smoother, but they fall asleep a lot faster. So pick what your doing and when, and stick to it!

Put Baby to Bed…Alone. Ok this one was especially hard for me – but if your little one gets used to sleeping on you, or with you – well Houston, we have a problem. I got a bit laxed when my son was born (#3) and allowed him to sleep in bed with me since his Dad was traveling so much – he is now 8 years old and there are still nights I have to fight to get him into his own bed. . and even then, he wants one of his sisters to lay down with him. Lay them down when they are tired, but not all the way asleep, and allow them to get used to being alone. Let them cry it out a bit (if needed) but eventually they will get used to being in bed and falling asleep there. This will also help a lot when it comes to waking up – most babies that go to bed and learn to fall asleep on their own, will also learn how to entertain themselves a bit when waking up (you’re welcome).

Put Baby to Bed with a Full Belly. This was key for my kids; breast milk or formula won’t always keep baby in bed for the entire night – giving them a full belly before bed with GERBER CEREALS.

GERBER CEREALS are also amazing as you mix it yourself – this way you can use your baby’s own breast milk or formula – a taste they are already familiar with – to help them make the transition. It’s a flavor bridge into solid foods. Plus you can mix a perfect ratio of cereal – breast milk to give your baby just the right texture, thin or slightly thicker for those early spoon feeding experiences – and it’s really fun to let them feed themselves!

gerber_cereal

Not only is it delicious and filling, but it 2 servings provide 90% of the iron babies need! 
gerber_cereal2

 

Posted in Parenting | Leave a comment

Why Your AC System Is Short-Cycling

Posted on October 8, 2016 by Krissyar

Air conditioners naturally go through on and off cycles so that the temperature in your home is maintained around your set-point, but sometimes you may notice the system is going through faster and more frequent cycles. This process of shutting off too soon and starting up too quickly is known as short-cycling, and it’s not only indicative of a problem — it’s also further damaging your AC system. The additional strain could even burn out a compressor. And in the best-case-scenario: it’s already costing you money on your energy bills.

 

There are a few ways you can end up with this problem. And it might have started as early as the initial installation.

 

Size Does Matter

 

The root cause for this could be that the HVAC system is too large for the space it’s trying to cool. When systems are sized improperly, the end result is always inefficient cooling and increased wear and tear — in this case, an overpowered AC unit generally lowers the temperature at the thermostat pretty quickly, even if the rest of the house is still cooling down. After a moment of thermal exchange, the unit has to switch on again. The ductwork installed plays into this as well, but the basic principle is the same: if your AC system isn’t appropriate for your home, this is one of the ways it will try to tell you.

 

On the other hand, you might be getting ice on your evaporator coils. While the cause for this is more often neglect of the air filters, a system that’s too small to cool your space might be showing the signs of trying to work itself to death. What was probably once a run-on AC unit is simply becoming a short-cycling AC unit.

 

Clogged Air Filters

 

I know it can be easy to forget, but air filters are cheap, they need to be replaced monthly, and they absolutely deserve their own section in all things related to residential HVAC.

 

Size mismatches aside, the most common reason for short-cycling and numerous other issues I’ve seen is clogged air filters. If an air filter is clogged, the air conditioner has to work harder to compensate for the reduced airflow. But it can only do so at the expense of its own parts. The evaporator coil will not be able to absorb enough heat, and the system will start to shut down early. Typically, the blower motor and compressor will also be stressed and start to overheat, again leading to short cycles. Components will continue to wear and fail prematurely in this fashion until they are repaired or replaced.

 

Refrigerants and Compressors

 

The compressor circulates refrigerant through the system during operation, but the part is only designed to handle gas, and if exposed to liquid, can become damaged and throw off the system. Your short-cycling could be the first symptom you’ve noticed, but the end result of a damaged compressor is a replacement compressor.

 

Low refrigerant can also cause short-cycling and will tend to stress the compressor in particular. Most compressors are equipped with a low-pressure control to protect the compressor by shutting it off when evaporator pressure falls below the point where it should cut out. When the compressor is turned off, the pressure rises until it is high enough to restart. In this case, the low refrigerant is causing this to occur more frequently. Short-cycling associated with low refrigerant can also be accompanied by unusual amounts of heat (be careful not to try to touch the compressor directly, it may be extremely hot) and a slight burning odor. If you notice anything along the lines of heat or burning odors, shut off the unit and call an HVAC technician immediately.

 

Thermostats

 

Thermostat problems are another common reason for short-cycling. A malfunction in the thermostat, potentially from a short in the wiring, can lead to the thermostat sending the wrong signals to the AC system. The thermostat may also be reading the wrong temperatures due to its placement either in direct sunlight or directly under an AC vent. The sensor inside the thermostat may also be entirely defective. More modern thermostats will frequently have a timer to restrict short-cycling. This helps prevent further damage to the system, but makes short-cycling as a symptom a little harder to notice. Still, if the AC seems like it waits exactly five minutes and switches back on, that could be exactly what it’s doing.

 

The bottom line is that although there are several causes for short-cycling, it’s an important symptom to look out for and pay attention to. If your system gets to the point that you notice it, something’s already wrong, and it will only get worse if it’s not taken care of.

 

Oh, and when was the last time you changed your air filter?

 

 

Posted in Money Matters | Leave a comment

6-Minute Small Batch Salted Caramel Sauce

Posted on September 28, 2016 by Krissyar

Fall is one of my favorite times of year – and the food that comes with it. We always attend the local Apple Festivals, and my favorite thing to eat with those juicy apples is some delicious salted caramel sauce. Wayy better than that stuff you pick up in the store – and also super easy. 6-minutes and you have yourself a delicious snack!

Yields: 8 oz jar of Salted Caramel Sauce

Prep Time: 1 minute| Cook Time: 5 minutes | Total Time: 6 minutes

 

Ingredients:

ingredients_caramel

2 tablespoons salted butter

½ cup light brown sugar, packed

¼ cup heavy cream

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon vanilla

 

Directions:

 

In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, whisk together butter, brown sugar, heavy cream, and salt.

in_process_caramel

 

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Simmer for 5 minutes – whisking frequently.

Whisk in vanilla, and then remove from heat.

Pour caramel sauce into heatproof jar and allow it to cool.

final_caramel_sauce
Notes: This sauce will burn easily if not consistently whisked. Do not leave unattended while cooking. The sauce will thicken as it cools. It is perfect for dipping apples, pouring over warm apple desserts, ice cream, or using in various fall recipes that call for caramel.

Follow my board on Pinterest for more recipes, crafts & fall ideas

Posted in Recipes | Leave a comment

The Household Guide to Care-Free Composting

Posted on September 28, 2016 by Krissyar

There are a lot of miracles that occur in nature: The Aurora Borealis, The Great Barrier Reef, and the ability for natural waste (leaves, veggie peelings, other produce leftovers) to biodegrade into essential nutrients for rich soil. With the current health craze leaning towards “going green”, composting is one of the easiest things a family can do to reduce their carbon footprint and assist the environment in a natural way. By turning everyday waste into compost, you will not only diminish the amount of trash in landfills, you will be getting free, 100 percent organic fertilizer for your flower beds, garden or lawn.

 

While many major cities have added mandatory composting bins to their curbside collection, it is still not a global concept. Check your local municipality to see if you have a local composting center, and if not you can follow this guide to compost your own waste yourself.

 

Start Small

The most common mistake of any gardening project is to bite off more than you can chew. Especially if it is your first time to take a whack at gardening, you aren’t going to want to end up looking at a half-finished mess in your yard. Simply start with a plastic bin in a designated corner where you pile all of your organic waste and work your way up from there.

 

Pick a Reasonable Location

You wouldn’t put your kitchen garbage can in your bedroom or living room, so make sure the compost refuse is in a convenient location (close to your kitchen or garden) or you might not get as much mileage out of them as possible. You don’t even technically need an actual bin to start composting – just get a pile of leaves going in your back yard and add the organic waste to it. Keep a tight lidded compost container under the sink for quick kitchen waste, and add to your pile once it’s full.

 

Brown and Green Material Only!

You are going to want to only put organic material in to your compost pile. Brown materials will be the dead leaves and plants from your yard; Green materials are going to be the waste from produce, wet grass clippings, vegetable peels, etc. You should try to avoid putting meats, oils, fruit, and nonperishable items like disposable diapers in to the pile as they can attract rodents and slow the entire biodegrading process down.

 

Pro-Tip: Remember that water is necessary for attracting fungi, worms and bacteria. If you live in a region with a dry climate or dry season, remember to water your compost pile and place a cover over it to conserve the water more effectively.

 

Application

After around 6-12 months, the compost pile that you’ve been slowly growing and developing should be ready for use in your garden! Once it has turned into a dark and sweet smelling dirt, you can use it as a nutrient supplement for your flowerbeds and planter boxes.

 

Not only is this a great way to do your part to keep your garden green with items you’d just throw out anyway – you’re helping save the planet!

 

Posted in Cleaning & Organizing | Leave a comment

Unique But Effective Cleaning Tips

Posted on September 25, 2016 by Krissyar

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Mean Green Products. Though I was compensated for my time, all opinions are my own.

Cleaning takes time – well at least that’s what I’ve always been told if you are doing it right. And though I agree that it does take time ..I don’t think it has to take forever. As I’ve read across Facebook, Twitter and even from friends & family I’ve came up with a list of unique cleaning tips to make the mundane a little bit easier.

unique_but_effective_cleaning_tips

 

Have a hairy pet?? Put on a wet rubber dish washing glove and wipe your hand over the hairy services. The hair will stick right to it! (Be prepared to be grossed out!) a lint roller across your couch will also work – I try to use the lint roller a few times a week and the dish glove once or twice a month.

Clean with Kool-Aid. If you have a problem with stubborn stains in your toilet – use an orange Kool-Aid packet. The citric acid will clean away stains and build up. Empty the packet in, swirl it around with the toilet bowl brush and let it sit over night. It will be sparkly clean!  Use lemon Kool-Aid in your dishwasher to make it sparkle as well.

Red Wine Stains. A dab of shaving cream can actually help remove red wine stains on fabric.

Baskets on Each Floor. I have a pretty basket that sits by the steps of each floor of our home (we have 4 including the basement!) while I’m cleaning if I find stuff that belongs on another floor, I stick it in the basket and then take it up the stairs when I move up to the next floor. This definitely saves time

Need a Fresh Smelling Refrigerator? Grab a bowl and put some vanilla extract in it – dip a paper towel in it and wipe down your refrigerator walls. It will clean up the ick, and also freshen the smell.

How About a Fresh Smelling House?  Grab a pot and put some oranges and cinnamon sticks in it – boil it. Your house will now be smelling fresh!

Behind on Laundry? It happens to the best of us (especially if Mom gets sick, or super busy at work) Find a laundromat with a wash-and-fold service. They usually charge by the pound, so it’s only a few dollars per load. You can drop it off and pick it up the next day usually. Talk about getting caught up fast! If you are a bit weird about something else folding your undies (trust me, I get it!) take your kids with you and go to the laundromat yourself! You’d be amazed how much you can get done when you use 6 or 7 washers and dryers at the same time!

Re-use Old Socks and Tees. I scrub our kitchen floor and bathroom floor with old socks and t-shirts. The socks can come in handy because you can put them on the bottom of your swifter wet-jet and not have to replace the pads. You can use the sock until it needs thrown away (or washed, depending on the mess).

When in Doubt, Throw it Away. I keep garbage bags and boxes on hand always. When I am cleaning if I haven’t used something in awhile, or I’m not sure where it came from (which happens more than I’d like to admit) it goes in 1 of 2 places. 1. the garbage bag or 2. the garage sale box. When the box gets full, it gets moved to the basement and another box gets put in it’s place. By the time garage sale time comes around, I don’t have to go throughout the house looking for stuff the kids don’t play with, or what doesn’t fit. It’s already been done – all year long.

Use a Multi-Purpose “All in One” Cleaner.  Having an ‘all in one’ cleaner makes life a lot easier (and cheaper) when you are cleaning. Instead of going back and forth finding what cleaner cleans what, try a multi-purpose cleaner like Mean Green Anti-bacterial Multi-Surface Cleaner.

One of my favorite ‘easy’ cleaning tips with Mean Green Anti-bacterial MSC is to spray cleaner on a paper towel. Place paper towel in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Then just easily wipe away the mess!

mean_green

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Cleaning & Organizing | Leave a comment